“We did note that we were disappointed by the recent parliamentary elections, especially because so many of the seats were uncontested or only had token opposition. Obviously, we believe going forward things should be done very differently,” she told reporters yesterday.
The opposition alliance led by former premier Khaleda Zia boycotted the polls marred by low turn out and violence which claimed nearly 30 lives since Saturday.
Zia claimed that the people had rejected the “one-sided and stage-managed polls”.
The UN also joined the international condemnation with its chief Ban Ki-moon calling for the two major parties - the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - “to resume meaningful dialogue” urgently “for an inclusive political process”.
He expressed sadness at the loss of life and said: “The UN will continue to support the country's democratic processes in accordance with the principles of inclusiveness, non-violence, reconciliation and dialogue.”
The UK also urged the two warring parties to work in the interest of the country.
“Like others in the International community, the UK believes that the true mark of a mature, functioning democracy is peaceful, credible elections that express the genuine will of the voters,” senior foreign office minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said in a statement yesterday.
“It is, therefore, disappointing that voters in more than half the constituencies did not have the opportunity to express their will at the ballot box and that turnout in most other constituencies was low.”
